Evelyn's Park will continue to develop as the popular uses for the green space become evident.

Evelyn's Park will continue to develop as the popular uses for the green space become evident.

Photo: Tom Flaherty

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Evelyn's Park is set to open on Earth Day in Bellaire at the old Teas Garden.

Evelyn's Park is set to open on Earth Day in Bellaire at the old Teas Garden.

Photo: Tom Flaherty

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Evelyn's Park has several environmentally friendly features.

Evelyn's Park has several environmentally friendly features.

Photo: Tom Flaherty

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Evelyn's Park will open Saturday.

Evelyn's Park will open Saturday.

Photo: Tom Flaherty

Evelyn's Park to open Saturday in Bellaire

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Houston has another new urban park to celebrate this Earth Day.

Evelyn's Park, on the five-acre site that once held Teas Nursery, opens to the public Saturday with a sampling of the kinds of activities that will activate the new jewel of Bellaire. On tap are a mini-farmer's market, family fun and food and beverage offerings including picnic boxes from Zelko Concepts' new The Ivy & James cafe, wine and beer tastings and food truck fare.

The buildings by Lake-Flato architects are complete, the mostly young plants and trees in SWA Group's landscape design look ready to flourish and the log-climbing hill and slide are ready for rambunctious children.

During a walk-through Wednesday, executive director Denton Ragland noted important aspects of the park that don't necessarily meet the eye right on: This green space is a national model for sustainability, he said.

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Solar panels atop the office/event space building aim to bring the park a "net carbon zero" energy footprint for its day-to-day operations by 2018. A massive storm water runoff system lies underneath the landscape, and water features in the master plan could one day recycle storm water for irrigation.

The Forestation Area, which will eventually shield views of the homes that back up to the park's north side, has been seeded with plains bristlegrass, prairie wild rye and inland sea oats under Montezuma cypress, sweetgum and Southern magnolia trees.

Lighting throughout the park is dark-skies compliant.

"You won't see this stadium from 20 blocks away," Ragland said. "We want to be neighborhood friendly in every way we can."

A special bike parking lot near the entrance includes a free air station, with tools, to encourage two wheeled transportation and help keep car traffic to a minimum.

The park's programs will include earth-friendly education. When the cafe officially opens in May, for example, chef Jamie Zelko will offer occasional classes in cooking with herbs in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner fare.

Brothers Jerry and Maury Rubenstein purchased the site that was Teas Nursery -- Bellaire's first business, founded in 1910 -- and donated the land to the city of Bellaire in 2009. They stipulated that it be used for a park named after their mother, Evelyn Rubenstein, a longtime Bellaire resident.

Green Mountain Energy Sun Club donated the solar, rainwater catchment and composting solutions. Hundreds of people in the community contributed funds, including children who sold lemonade and saved money in their piggybanks, Ragland said.

Unlike the recently opened Levy Park in the Upper Kirby District, Evelyn's Park will be less about finding things to do than simply finding a place to "be" and celebrate nature, he added.

"If you spend ten minutes outdoors, chemical reactions happen in your brain, influencing your mood for the rest of the day. Those little ripples in the pond end up affecting the whole neighborhood."

Ragland wants to see how the community uses the park before he plans too many activities. Benches in three styles are scattered across each section of the park, and the big lawn can accommodate anything from picnics to impromptu soccer games. (Dogs are not allowed in Bellaire parks.)

Still to come -- perhaps by fall -- is Bridgette Mongeon's "Move One Place On" bronze sculpture, which will be represented during Saturday's opening by live, costumed characters.acters.